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Introduction: the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on hospital admissions. The clinical profiles of patients referred to liaison psychiatry teams (LPT) remained stable over the last few decades. We postulate changes in patient profiles due to the COVID-19 pandemic., Materials and Methods: a total of 384 patients admitted to a tertiary care University Hospital in Madrid (Spain) and referred to LPTs were recruited. Patients referred 5 months before and after the first admission for COVID-19 were included. Clinical and sociodemographic characteristics were collected, and non-parametric hypothesis contrast tests were used to study possible differences between both periods., Results: patients referred during the pandemic were significantly older (U = 2.006; p = .045), most of them were admitted to medical hospitalization units (χ2 (2) = 5.962; p = 015), and with a different reason for admission. There was an increase in the rate of adjustment disorders (χ2 (1) =7.893; p = 005) and delirium (χ2 (1) =9.413; p = 002), as well as psychiatric comorbidity (χ2 (2) = 9.930; p = .007), and a reduction in the proportion of patients treated for substance misuse (χ2 (5) = 19.152; p = .002). The number of deaths increased significantly (χ2 (1) = 6.611; p = .010). In persons over 65 years inappropriate prescription was significantly lower (χ2 (1) = 8.200; p = .004)., Conclusions: the pandemic had an impact on the activity of the LPTs due to the change in the clinical profile and evolution of referred patients, maintaining standards of care that are reflected through prescription., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To describe the characteristics and determining factors of carer stress in a group of elderly home care patients with dementia evaluated in a Geriatric Assessment Unit., Material and Methods: An observational descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using an assessment of baseline characteristics of patients and carers. Estimation of caregiver burden was registered by validated scales: Goldberg Anxiety Scale (GAS), Goldberg Depression Scales (GDS), and Zarit Burden Scale (ZS)., Results: A total of 130 patients were included. No item related to dementia patients was associated with caregiver burden. A poor perception of health and quality of life by the caregivers were associated with anxiety risk, depression and burden. Attendance rates for primary care and lack of paid work outside the home were associated with both, depression (GDS>2) and anxiety (GAS>4). Carer age and a lower education were related to depression. Anti-inflammatory, anxiolytics and antidepressants consumption was associated with anxiety, and anti-inflammatory consumption with caregiver burden (ZS >47)., Conclusions: The profile of carers in our sample is comparable to that described in other national studies, but care time is longer. The target population is difficult to identify and in need of help. Although there is not a formal demand for help, we should be encouraged to develop new healthcare methods., (Copyright © 2013 Sociedad Española de Médicos de Atención Primaria (SEMERGEN). Publicado por Elsevier España. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this observational study was to describe the characteristics (including functional measures) of the elderly patients hospitalized in the acute geriatric unit (AGU) and diagnosed with HF as well as to determine the variables associated with mortality at one year after discharge. A prospective study including patients aged 70 and over hospitalized for acute decompensated HF was performed. The baseline measures were demographics, comorbidity, clinical, functional and cognitive status. The outcome for this study was death within one year from the index hospital admission date. During the length of the study, 32.7% patients died (20.7% within the first three months). The clinical features associated with HF-related mortality in the univariate analysis were institutionalization, a higher dependence in performing basic activities or instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). Older age did not correlate with mortality, nor did left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), the ejection fraction or the pharmacological treatment at discharge. After performing the logistic regression analysis, the only variable independently related to a higher mortality risk at one year was the preadmission dependence in performing basic activities of daily living (BADL). The results of this study highlight that preadmission functional and sociodemographic variables are the best predictors of mortality at one year, surpassing the classic prognostic factors. Performing an adequate assessment at the time of admission, which should include a functional evaluation, may help us to better classify patients and to offer them a customized therapeutic plan with better prognostic capabilities., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A laboratory finding of eosinophilia in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms should prompt the differential diagnosis of a parasitosis. The diagnosis is based on identification of larvae in three different stool samples. We report the case of an 82-year-old woman who was independent for instrumental and advanced activities of daily living and showed no risk factors for strongyloidiasis who was admitted to our service with diarrhoea and abdominal pain. Blood examination showed peripheral eosinophilia of 38%. Stool sample revealed Strongyloides stercoralis. In the patient's case history, we found similar clinical features with fluctuating eosinophilia over the previous 8 years. The patient was treated with albendazole, resulting in clinical improvement and elimination of eosinophilia.

Objective: To determine the characteristics of elderly persons hospitalized for congestive heart failure and identify the factors associated with functional impairment or death at discharge and 3 months later., Material and Methods: We performed a prospective observational study that included 162 patients admitted to an Acute Geriatric Care Unit with a diagnosis of heart failure from February to July 2007. Socio-demographic, clinical, functional and cognitive factors were recorded during admission. Functional and vital measurements were reported at discharge and 3 months later., Results: The incidence of mortality or functional decline was 48.8% at discharge and was 37.3% 3 months later. In the final model, predictors of functional impairment or mortality at discharge were days of hospital stay and a worse Pfeiffer test score (odds ratio [OR]: 1.74; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.33-2.29). Three months after discharge, independent prognostic factors were age (OR: 1.09; 95% CI: 1.02-1.17), hyponatremia (OR: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.77-0.94), length of QRS in milliseconds (OR: 0.98; 95% CI: 0.97-0.99), absence of ventricular hypertrophy (OR: 0.42; 95% CI: 0.19-0.94), and a poor result in the Pfeiffer Test (OR: 1.40; 95% CI: 1.13-1.73)., Conclusions: Cognitive evaluation during hospital admission for heart failure in the elderly helps to select individuals at risk of functional impairment or death at discharge and 3 months later.